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Valero Plans Work for St. Charles Refinery in 2011

Bloomberg -- Valero Energy Corp., the largest U.S. independent refiner, will spend $200 million to improve reliability at a gasoline-producing unit at its St. Charles refinery in Norco, Louisiana.

The project will reduce the frequency of required maintenance on the unit, giving the company access to a larger amount of processing capacity over the course of two years, Chief Executive Officer Bill Klesse said.

The unit, a fluid catalytic cracker, has the ability to process 100,000 barrels of crude oil a day, Klesse said after attending the National Petrochemical and Refiners’ Association annual meeting in Phoenix.

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Submitted Mar 22, 2010 By: ziyulu

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badbonita Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,002 Points:336,790 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 1:18:18 PM Ignore badbonita Report Abuse Increased reliability. What a concept!
cpl11787 All-Star Author Minnesota Posts:630 Points:123,275 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 12:56:39 PM Ignore cpl11787 Report Abuse hmm, maybe a good thing.
janctx Champion Author Lubbock Posts:2,513 Points:820,970 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 12:32:09 PM Ignore janctx Report Abuse thats a start
Robert44 Champion Author Columbus Posts:2,832 Points:734,965 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 11:05:41 AM Ignore Robert44 Report Abuse Its about time for this to happen!!
sivart Champion Author Arkansas Posts:11,676 Points:2,065,430 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:59:12 AM Ignore sivart Report Abuse It's about time to overhaul a refinery...When will we build a new one?
Lengas Champion Author Gary Posts:8,171 Points:1,701,730 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:52:46 AM Ignore Lengas Report Abuse Get it done now
Dale Jr. Champion Author Illinois Posts:11,090 Points:2,221,025 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:50:55 AM Ignore Dale Jr. Report Abuse So true napermike79. Let's hope they can.
DirtDauber Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,635 Points:614,120 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:49:57 AM Ignore DirtDauber Report Abuse Good idea.
cnet1 Champion Author Arizona Posts:1,344 Points:391,640 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:49:28 AM Ignore cnet1 Report Abuse bad hurricane seasone means higher prices because refineries will most likely get damaged. but wait, theyre not using these refineries now anyways, just an excuse to raise prices
napermike79 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,982 Points:913,645 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:47:24 AM Ignore napermike79 Report Abuse Hopefully they hurricane-proof the place too.
NashGas All-Star Author Nashville Posts:529 Points:115,105 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:47:11 AM Ignore NashGas Report Abuse Sounds good.
Marty_P Sophomore Author Baton Rouge Posts:188 Points:548,250 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:46:39 AM Ignore Marty_P Report Abuse Great for Louisiana and the U.S.!!!
PhilMils Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,926 Points:413,175 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:46:37 AM Ignore PhilMils Report Abuse This is good.
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:4,415 Points:2,076,520 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:44:45 AM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse This'll last until the next time they decide that they're not making enough profits off of their refining operations.
POPSAZ All-Star Author Arizona Posts:645 Points:259,765 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:40:51 AM Ignore POPSAZ Report Abuse More production is always good.
ricker8 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,211 Points:447,390 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:40:34 AM Ignore ricker8 Report Abuse any work is good.
Italianman All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:802 Points:288,995 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:40:31 AM Ignore Italianman Report Abuse Good for Valero.
VetteFan Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,676 Points:1,026,215 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:39:44 AM Ignore VetteFan Report Abuse Work on the refinery is good news.
spunky4443 Champion Author Washington Posts:3,866 Points:1,019,910 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:37:32 AM Ignore spunky4443 Report Abuse With all the Money that they have bled out of us, they should have no problem doing this.
TRAIN RIDER Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:4,086 Points:1,758,690 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:35:59 AM Ignore TRAIN RIDER Report Abuse WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS? WHEN THEY GO DOWN THE PRICES GO UP, I KNOW THE OIL COMPANIES WANT THE PRICES UP.
Maintroll Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,493 Points:685,385 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:34:44 AM Ignore Maintroll Report Abuse This is nice, but is the consumer going to pay for it?
Don20 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:4,549 Points:1,608,470 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:29:55 AM Ignore Don20 Report Abuse "There is a big surplus in the oil market, and the fundamentals aren't that much better than they were a few months ago," said Ben Westmore, commodities economist at National Australia Bank in Melbourne. "It's not really clear that oil prices (above $80) are really justified." ... This news should be considered normal operating procedures, if you are in the business to make money. Unscheduled down time are expensive to any refinery..
CatMan623 Champion Author Houston Posts:8,301 Points:1,344,175 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:28:06 AM Ignore CatMan623 Report Abuse Well, Congress is on a roll. Why don't they go ahead and take over oil exploration, production, refining, distribution and retailing....? Now THAT'S one scary thought.......
Wolfwings Champion Author Delaware Posts:3,735 Points:781,145 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:26:28 AM Ignore Wolfwings Report Abuse INteresting concept, but I'm not sure what it all means.
copperhead8 Champion Author Boston Posts:10,529 Points:1,814,925 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:25:50 AM Ignore copperhead8 Report Abuse I totally agree with goalie1950.
kyrunner Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,727 Points:686,110 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:25:26 AM Ignore kyrunner Report Abuse Glad to see they are looking ahead.
mmene Champion Author Houston Posts:2,378 Points:547,820 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:19:37 AM Ignore mmene Report Abuse mackconsult - that seems obvious doesn't it? Don't all companies make changes to increase ROI? You don't think that GE makes lightbulbs or Microsoft makes software for the general upliftment of the public do you? It turns out the best way for Valero (or any refiner) to make ROI is to make the maximum product at the lowest cost. That will increase their profits while also increasing our supply and keeping prices down. Win-win. Any refiner that is making increased investments in capacity and reliability is good news for the public. It is the refiners not making investments or shutting down capacity that you need to worry about. They are the ones looking to increase margins by selling less product and that is the real long term danger. Not the ones increasing investment.
twiper1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,741 Points:591,520 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:18:45 AM Ignore twiper1 Report Abuse Valero looking out for the little guy. SURE, thats what they want you to believe
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,003 Points:504,885 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:18:28 AM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse Good for Valero.
mackconsult Champion Author Portland Posts:1,111 Points:244,780 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:14:36 AM Ignore mackconsult Report Abuse You they figure they will make more $$$$$ based on the repair .... they are doing it for ROI not american supply capability.
turbodog Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,624 Points:351,570 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:12:46 AM Ignore turbodog Report Abuse Glad to see investment in refining.
BlueVanGroup Champion Author Colorado Posts:2,077 Points:538,000 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:11:57 AM Ignore BlueVanGroup Report Abuse This is the time to do it--during the switch from winter blends to summer blends.
Lizzylou Champion Author Stockton Posts:4,337 Points:1,464,340 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:10:45 AM Ignore Lizzylou Report Abuse AGREE!! Another reason to raise prices!
egd Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,877 Points:1,298,035 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:10:20 AM Ignore egd Report Abuse national growth of oil infrastructure is good
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,420 Points:285,825 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:07:12 AM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse A worthwhile project to improve reliability and productivity of this facility. Hopefully, long term oil prices will benefit from these improvements.
Helms Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:4,106 Points:1,195,665 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:52 AM Ignore Helms Report Abuse surprised they didn;t use the economy as an excuse not to make the investment...when times are bad refiners typically can't justify the expense and when times are good they can't shut down for th eimprovements because they're running near or at capacity...what a gig!!
sleepyt Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,250 Points:391,040 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:44 AM Ignore sleepyt Report Abuse Long overdue
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,348 Points:474,495 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:40 AM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Great news.
MikLamb Champion Author Texas Posts:2,863 Points:1,162,565 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:06:25 AM Ignore MikLamb Report Abuse Good.
tobasco Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,495 Points:1,326,575 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:04:54 AM Ignore tobasco Report Abuse About time.
VTROCK Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,785 Points:385,960 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:02:43 AM Ignore VTROCK Report Abuse It's nice to see someone investing in refinery capacity. It has been a tough place to make money.
reff5577 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:81 Points:512,705 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:02:14 AM Ignore reff5577 Report Abuse IF THATS NOT ANOTHER REASON TOO JACK UP GAS PRICES THEN WHAT IS???
PaylessKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,360 Points:625,755 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:00:33 AM Ignore PaylessKY Report Abuse Improve reliability, reduce frequency of maintenance? Well see.
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,216 Points:555,215 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 10:00:25 AM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Yet another reason to raise pump prices!!!
Beboper Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,572 Points:1,146,810 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:59:09 AM Ignore Beboper Report Abuse there goes the prices again up up and away
rasprout Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,354 Points:349,960 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:56:53 AM Ignore rasprout Report Abuse Sounds like reasons to raise prices...
jayrad1957 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:7,299 Points:583,615 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:56:22 AM Ignore jayrad1957 Report Abuse Another excuse for the speculators to raise prices again.
Doubleeez Champion Author Connecticut Posts:2,547 Points:515,990 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:56:02 AM Ignore Doubleeez Report Abuse Sounds like just normal business maintenance and production. They have to do something to justify their R & D department.
206awd250 Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,242 Points:408,295 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:54:51 AM Ignore 206awd250 Report Abuse good for them. 1 refinery wont make a difference though.
condé Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,286 Points:1,295,705 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Mar 22, 2010 9:54:42 AM Ignore condé Report Abuse Good for them...